From Legend to History

1. From Legend to History A.D. 449-1066

2. The Anglo-Saxon Period 449-1066

3. Celts • Once thought to be original settlers of Britain (got there circa 700 B.C.) • Once believed to predate 3000 B.C. and possibly built Stonehenge—it was old when they got there • Pagan religion-Druids • Mentioned by Greeks in 4th century B.C. • 2 tribes mentioned Brythons and Gaelic • Were warring tribes—not a centralized group of people • Brythons-Britons-settled in present day England or Britain • Gaels-term Gaelic-settled in Ireland • Island off coast they called Eire becomes Ireland

4. Romans • By 250 B.C. had conquered most of the world • Julius Caesar, as a General, leads invasion of England in 55 B.C. • Not until A.D. 43 is there an actual conquest by Claudius • There to rule, not destroy • Their rule lasted over 300 years/height of power 117 A.D. under Trajan • Last legions left in 407 A.D. to defend a falling Rome. • Brought Christianity to England in 4th century • Brought structure to England • Built roads and walls as a defense against invaders-see Hadrian’s wall

5. Men or Myths? • Patrick (c. 5th century) • Historically a Romanized Britain-a Christian • Once captured by Irish, enslaved, escapes, and later returned to convert them. • Becomes a Saint-patron saint of Ireland • Ran off all of the snakes in Ireland-really there are no snakes in Ireland except in Zoos-symbolic myth • Symbolism of the Shamrock

6. Men or Myths? • King Arthur (c. late 5th early 6th century) • Not really a King at all • His existence is still debated • Likely to have been a Romanized Celt or Welsh warrior • Most associated with Middle Ages and its literatureanic tribes • Said to have led warriors against invading Norse and Germ • See films—King Arthur with Clive Owen or Last Legion

7. Homework • Answer the following: • Define an “epic poem” • Define “alliteration” • Define “kenning” • What is a hero? Explain your definition and give examples • What is courage? How would most people today define courage? • What qualities do you believe a good leader should possess? Discuss leadership in our society. Name some modern leaders. • What are the characteristics of contemporary leaders? What do we admire about them? • What does it mean to be loyal? Tell about a time you were loyal or someone was loyal to you. • Why is a reputation important? What factors influence a person’s reputation? • Why is generosity important? What does it mean to be generous? Write about or discuss the most generous person you know.

8. Review from yesterday

9. Invasion • Romans left England open to invasion—no real army or defense • Various Germanic, Norse, Danish tribes invade • Celts can’t hold them back • Some are actual Vikings from Norway, others are Viking-like tribes • Tribes with names like Jutes, Saxons, Picts, and Angles • Step ashore in 449-burning churches and destroying everything

10. Germanic vs. Danes • Danes and Norsh were too harsh for Germanic tribes • Saxons and Angles ban together and forces Danes north • Southern half is called Angle-land or England • Anglo-Saxon refers to combination of tribes and culture formed from it • Anglo-Saxon united under King Alfred or Alfred the Great • Danes and Vikings never stop trying to get in until everyone is defeated including the Anglo-Saxons in 1066

11. Major Historical Figures Alfred the Great • Becomes King c. 871 A.D. • Unites England against Vikings • Commissions The Anglo Saxon Chronicle—a history of the Anglo-Saxons in England—written in Old English • Helped give Old English respectability • Most stuff written in Latin, he insists on a language of the people

12. Major Historical Figures Edward the Confessor • Named because he was deeply religious • Death in 1066 opened England to invasion • No real heir for his throne

13. Major Historical Figures Harold II • Considered last Anglo-Saxon king • Chosen by council elders to be king • Killed in same year takes throne (1066)

14. Major Historical Figures William the Conqueror • Duke of Normandy • Claims Edward left throne to him • Decides to invade England and take his throne • Leads Norman invasion of England • Kills Harold and takes throne • Introduces the Norman or French line of kings

15. Language • Old English becomes the language of the people • Old English is a combination of various languages of invading tribes • Latin comes from the Romans—later considered language of the educated and elite • Norse language comes from the Vikings • German from the Germanic tribes i.e. Angles, Saxons • Gaelic from the Celts • Remnants of these languages can still be seen in our language

16. Religion • Historically begins with Pagan religion of Celts • Christianity brought in by the Romansand slowly spreads • Anglo-Saxon belief system similar to Norse and Norse mythology • Norse main god was Oden—Anglo-Saxon was Woden—his day is referred to as Woden’s day or Wednesday • Son was Thor in both religions—his day Thor’s day • Two major beliefs were “Wyrd” and “Lof” • “Wyrd” means fate—believed they would die young • “Lof” means fame after death—no real heaven so live eternally through fame

17. Warrior Society • With no real period of peace, warriors were necessary • One of the most respected members of society • Wanted to die in battle—felt it was their “wyrd” • Fight hard and gain “lof” • Short life span and no medical care- “hair of the dog”

18. Literature • Earliest form is of the storytelling or oral tradition • “Scop” was a storyteller • “Scops” were respected as warriors • “Scops” could provide “lof” • Written literature is from monks • Monks wrote down stories of commoners • Two main forms • Lyric poetry—most like a song in form • Example: “The Seafarer” • The epic—just like The Odyssey—traces journey of a hero • Example: Beowulf

19. Influence and Importance of Catholicism and the church

20. History • Preserved and written down by monks • Bede (672-735 A.D.) • Monk and author a.k.a Venerable Bede • Wrote Ecclesiastical History of England • “Father of English History” • Work with Latin and Greek writings of the early Church Fathers contributed significantly to English Christianity, making the writings more accessible to fellow Anglo-Saxons.

21. Education • Monasteries were sanctuaries for learning • Monks were the few that could read and write • Helped educate others and spread Christianity while doing it • Monks could write in Old English and Latin • Helped bridge gap from King to commoner

22. Literature • Was spread because monks wrote it down • Exeter Book • 10th century compilation of Anglo-Saxon poetry • Kept in Exeter Cathedral, thus the name • Largest collection of Old English literature • No printing press • Hand copied text constantly • Winters so cold ink froze

23. Evolution of Language

24. From Old English to Modern English Anglo-Saxon (Old English) • nom      ic     wé    þú      gé       hé      héo     hit    híe • acc      mé     ús    þé      éow      hine    híe     hit    híe • dat      mé     ús    þé      éow      im      hire    him    heom • gen      mín    úre   þín     éower    his     hire    his    hira/heoras Late Middle English • nom      I     we     thou    ye      he      she    hit     they • obl      me    us     thee    you     him     hir    hit     hem/them • gen      my    oure   thy     your    his     hir    his     hir/their Modern English • nom      I      we     -      you     he      she    it      they • obl      me     us     -      you     him     her    it      them • gen      my     our    -      your    his     her    its     their

25. The Great English Vowel Shift • Most dramatic changes occurred between late part of Middle English and early part of Modern English • Originally, the long vowels were literally long versions of the short vowels: held for a longer time • Long vowels shifted “up”: pronounced with the tongue higher in the mouth • Vowels that couldn’t go any higher became dipthongs

26. The Great English Vowel Shift • Long vowels shifted up • e (originally pronounced “eh”) becomes “ee” (beet) • o (originally pronounced “oh”) becomes “oo” (boot) • Long vowels with nowhere to go became diphthongs • i (originally pronounced “ee”) becomes “eye” (bite) • ou (originally pronounced “oo”) becomes “ow” (spout) • Diphthongs became long sounds • ai(originally pronounced “eye”) becomes “ai” (mate) • au (originally pronounced “ow”) becomes “aw” (spot) • Other random changes • oo is sometimes “you” as in “cute” • e is sometimes silent now—never was silent before